High court in Abuja orders NYSC to allow female corps members wear skirts
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that the National Youth Service Corps’ (NYSC) refusal to permit female corps members to wear skirts in line with their religious beliefs is unconstitutional and violates the fundamental right to freedom of religion.
Delivered on June 13, 2025, Justice Hauwa Yilwa declared that NYSC’s policy enforcing trousers as the sole uniform option for women infringes on their constitutional rights to freedom of religion and human dignity.
The judgment arose from two consolidated cases filed separately by former corps members Ogunjobi Blessing and Ayuba Vivian, who argued that being forced to wear trousers conflicted with their Christian beliefs. They cited Deuteronomy 22:5, which they interpret as forbidding women from wearing men’s clothing.
Both suits named the NYSC and its Director-General as respondents and sought enforcement of their fundamental rights under the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights provisions.
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The applicants requested declarations that NYSC’s refusal to allow skirts breached their constitutional rights and religious freedom, condemnation of the harassment they endured, and an order compelling NYSC to permit skirts for female corps members with genuine religious objections. They also sought ₦10 million in damages.
In her ruling, Justice Yilwa granted all reliefs, including declaring the skirt ban unconstitutional, ordering NYSC to allow skirts for religious purposes, and directing NYSC to issue certificates to affected corps members.
She found NYSC’s insistence on trousers subjected the applicants to undue harassment and degrading treatment, violating their right to manifest their religion and their human dignity.
The court awarded ₦500,000 in damages to each applicant, deeming it reasonable under the circumstances, and underscored that preventing the completion of national service based on attire constituted religious discrimination and a clear breach of fundamental rights.
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